Backed by Gangwon Province and Wonju City, the three-day event brings together longtime residents, newcomers and travelers to support local merchants
As growing numbers of newcomers flock to Wonju — dubbed a "21st-century promised land" — a festival-style "co-prosperity market" is set to bring together longtime residents, new arrivals, travelers and merchants at the city's innovation district.
The 2026 Gangwon Wonju Innovation City Co-Prosperity Market, organized by the Wonju Innovation City Merchants' Association, will run June 11 through June 13 at 1902 Bangok-dong and Mirinae Street in the innovation district.
Backed by Wonju City and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, the event aims to energize the innovation district's commercial zone and build a foundation for community co-prosperity. Innovation district residents, merchants and relocated public institutions are all expected to take part, creating a space for communication and solidarity.
The market runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except on opening day, June 11, when it begins at 2 p.m. The venue will feature 16 sales and promotional booths and 18 food stalls, alongside a range of programs.
Ten public institutions are set to operate promotional booths and provide giveaway items: the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the Korea National Park Service, the National Health Insurance Service, the Korea Tourism Organization, the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, the Korea Road Traffic Authority, the Bangok-Gwanseol-dong Community Service Center, the Central Regional Tax Office, the Small Enterprise and Market Service Wonju Center, and the Yangup Thomas Welfare Center for the Disabled.
The employees of these institutions have long since become residents themselves.
A variety of programs invite direct public participation. Children can browse and shop at the "Co-Prosperity Cucumber Market," a neighborhood secondhand bazaar; residents can compete in "Co-Prosperity Got Talent," a community talent contest; and teenagers can join a random-play dance event.
Busking performances and citizen stage shows featuring workplace clubs from public institutions and local artists will also be held, offering visitors a full slate of entertainment.
This year, a sharing booth run in partnership with "Beautiful Store" will also be on site. The booth will handle secondhand goods sales and accept donated items on the spot, with organizers hoping the initiative will promote resource recycling and a culture of giving as an expression of community co-prosperity.
"We hope this event will bring residents, merchants and public institutions together and strengthen the bonds of the innovation city community," a Wonju City official said. "We will continue to pursue a range of projects to invigorate the local commercial district and community, and to improve living conditions in the innovation city."
abc@heraldcorp.com
